Lasting tool



- J. T. RIDDELL LASTI'NG TOOL Aug. 27,];19

Filed y 5, 195a Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITEQ Sldlh parent ice Claims.

This invention relates to lasting tools for shoe making and particularlyto stretching and pulling devices for drawing the toe portion of a shoeupper tightly over the toe of a last during the lasting operation.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved stretchingtool for lasting the toe of a shoe; to provide such a device that willmore quickly, easily and firmly grasp the leather margins of a shoeupper; to provide a stretching tool that can be fulcrumed on the solesurface of a last and at the same time reach over and below the edge ofthe same to grasp the margin of an upper; to provide such a devicecapable of more certain and forceful gripping and pulling action;

and to provide such a device of more simple construction and lowermanufacturing cost.

Specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View in elevation showing the application and useof the improved tool. 1 Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one form of thetool.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a common form of lasting tool modifiedto embody this invention.

As shown in the drawing my improved lasting tool comprises a fulcrumportion, a nose portion spaced forwardly of the fulcrum portion toprovide an open space or gap therebetween, and a plurality of spacedpointed prongs projecting outwardly from the nose portion for engagingand gripping the margin of a shoe upper.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the tool body is formed from asingle piece of round metal stock bent at its middle to form asubstantially semi-circular loop or nose portion I, turned radiallyinward from opposite sides of theloop to provide lateral armsor afulcrum portion 2, and then extend diametrically outward at right anglesto the fulcrum portion to provide a handle portion 3. The nose portionl, opposite the handle 3, is then turned upwardly on a chord of thesemi-circular loop, at about midway between the tip of the nose portionand the arms or ful- .crum 2 so as to be at an angle of approximately 45from the plane of the sides of the loop and the handle 3 is bentupwardly at the fulcrum portion so as to be at an angle of about 30 fromthe plane of the sides of the loop.

The gripping or leather engaging means comprise a plurality of spacedprongs l which are arranged to project from the upper surface of thenose portion l in a position to catch upon and be driven into anymaterial against which the nose portion. is engaged. As shown, theprongs t are pointed pin-like members mounted in the nose portion of thetool by being set and suitably fastened in individual sockets drilledinto the nose portion body. The prongs are set so as to projectsubstantially normal to the surface of .513 nose portion and arepreferably spaced on each side of the fore and aft center line of thetool. Such spacing of the prongs i is to leave the cente =ine area ofthe nose portion clear so that a centl al seam, not shown, in the upperwill not become engaged and perhaps torn open by the prongs duringmanipulation of the tool. Also, by spacing the prongs l symmetrically oneach side of the tool center line, the two halves of the shoe upper,joined by the beforementioned central seam, will be equally, uniformly,and simultaneously stretched and drawn during the lasting operation.

Thus, when the tool is placed over the toe of 20 a last ti, as shown in1, with the fulcrum portionzl resting on the sole surface of the last,the nose portion i may be projected below and under the toe of the last,so that the prongs l- Will readily engage the margin 6 of the toeportion of an upper ll.

Then upon shifting the handle}! in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig.1, toward the heel of the last t, the too-1 will pivot on the fulcrum .2and turn the nose portion l upwardly over the toe of the last andsomewhat rearwardly so as to stretch and draw the toe portion of theupper l tightly over the last in'one simple operation, after which thesaid margin l3 may be tacked down and secured in the usual manner to theinsole t which is disposed on the sole surface of the last 5.

In Fig. 4 the hereindescribed invention is shown embodied in a lastingtool that is generally of an old and well-known form comprising pincershaving relatively long downwardly curved toothed jaws Hi3, disposed oneabove the other, operated by handles ii, and having a hammer head 52mounted on the bottom side of the lower jaw between the downwardlycurved end thereof and the pivot l3 of the handles ll.

As modified to embody my improvements, the hammer head E2 is locatedclose to the pivot l3 to provide a large gap between the forward edgeof. the head and the tips of the downwardly curved jaws ill and theforward side of the head I2 is flattened as at M to provide a straighttransverse fulcrum edge 55. Also, the outer end margin or nose portionof the upper jaw I0 is provided with a plurality of spaced pointed 55The principal advantages of my improved lasting tool are found in itsuse for lasting the toe portions of shoe uppers and reside in the easeand rapidity with which that operation can be accomplished. Also a moreconsistent uniformity in the stretching of the upper over the toe of thelast ishad as the pull is distributed evenly and is simultaneous on eachside of the center line. Other advantages are found in the arrangementproviding a relatively wide gap between the fulcrum and the upperengaging nose portion of the device, whereby the nose portion can beturned below the toe of the last to obtain a secure grip on the uppermargin and then, pivoting on the fulcrum, turned upwardly and rearwardlyto tightly and perfectly stretch the toe portion of the upper in onesimple operation.

Other advantages are found in the simplicity of the construction and itslow cost of manufacture.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention are herein shownand described, it will be understood that details of the constructionsshown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit ofthis invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lasting tool comprising a handle, means adjacent one end of saidhandle providing a transverse fulcrum arranged to rest against thesurface of a shoe sole, a nose portion spaced forwardly of said fulcrumand extending parallel therewith, said nose portion being arranged toprovide an open gap between its forward end and said fulcrum and toreach forwardly over the toe end of said sole, and a plurality ofoutwardly projecting prongs spaced along the forward end of said noseportion, all arranged whereby said nose portion will move and pullprincipally in an upward direction when said tool is rocked on saidfulcrum.

2. A lasting tool comprising a handle, means adjacent one end of saidhandle providing a transverse fulcrum arranged to rest against thesurface of a shoe sole, an outwardly curved nose portion spacedforwardly of said fulcrum and extending substantially paralleltherewith, said nose portion being arranged to provide an open gapbetween its forward end and said fulcrum and to reach forwardly over thetoe end of said sole, and a plurality of outwardly projecting prongsspaced along the forward end of said nose portion, said prongs beingdisposed only on each side of the longitudinal center line of the tool,all arranged whereby said nose portion will move and pull principally inan upward direction when said tool is rocked on said fulcrum.

3. A lasting tool comprising a handle, opposed lateral arms at one endof said handle, an arcuate nose portion projecting forwardly from saidarms and connecting the outer extremities thereof to provide an openspace bounded by said arms and said nose portion, and a plurality ofoutwardly projecting prongs spaced along the forward end of said noseportion.

4. A lasting tool comprising a handle, opposed lateral arms at one endof said handle, an arouate nose portion projecting forwardly from saidarms and connecting the outer extremities thereof to provide an openspace bounded by said arms and said nose portion, said nose portionbeing turned upwardly relative to the plane of said handle and saidarms, and a plurality of outwardly projecting prongs spaced'along theforward end of said nose portion.

5. A lasting tool comprising pincers having relatively long jawsdisposed one above the other and curved downwardly at their ends, ahammer head mounted on the bottom surface of the lowermost jaw closelyadjacent the pivot of said JOHN T. RIDDELL.

